# US 10,766,573 B2 · Heat exchanger for a snowmobile engine air intake > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,573 B2 - Document ID: US10766573B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/693,986 - Filed: 2019-11-25 - Published: 2020-03-19 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-31 - Assignees: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. - Applicants: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. - Inventors: Sebastien Vezina; Jonathan Fortier; Alain Lavoie - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766573B2 ## CPC - B62M 27/02: power driven - B60K 11/04: Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds - B60K 13/02: concerning intake - F02B 29/04: Cooling of air intake supply - F02M 35/10157: {Supercharged engines} - B60Y 2200/252: Snowmobiles - B60Y 2306/05: Cooling - B62M 2027/023: {Snow mobiles characterised by engine mounting arrangements} - B62M 2027/026: {Snow mobiles characterised by the suspension means} - B62M 2027/028: {Snow mobiles characterised by chassis or bodywork} - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A snowmobile includes a tunnel having an inverted U-shape, having top, left side and right side portions which at least partly enclose a space. A drive track is disposed around a rear suspension assembly and at least in part in the space. A first heat exchanger has a heat exchanger liquid inlet and outlet. The heat exchanger liquid outlet fluidly communicates with the heat exchanger liquid inlet and with an engine liquid inlet. The first heat exchanger forms part of the top portion and is operable to dissipate heat toward the space from liquid passing therethrough. A second heat exchanger has a heat exchanger air inlet and outlet. The heat exchanger air outlet fluidly communicates with the heat exchanger air inlet and with the engine air inlet. The second heat exchanger forms part of the top portion and is operable to dissipate heat toward the space from air passing therethrough. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A snowmobile comprising: a frame including a tunnel, the tunnel having an inverted U-shape and comprising a top portion, a left side portion and a right side portion, the top, left side and right side portions at least partly enclosing a space; at least one ski connected to the frame; an engine supported by the frame and having an engine liquid inlet and an engine air inlet; a rear suspension assembly connected to the tunnel; a drive track disposed around the rear suspension assembly and at least in part in the space, the drive track being operatively connected to the engine; a first heat exchanger comprising a heat exchanger liquid inlet and a heat exchanger liquid outlet, the heat exchanger liquid outlet fluidly communicating with the heat exchanger liquid inlet and with the engine liquid inlet, the first heat exchanger forming part of the top portion of the tunnel, the first heat exchanger being operable to dissipate heat toward the space from liquid passing through the first heat exchanger; and a second heat exchanger comprising a heat exchanger air inlet and a heat exchanger air outlet, the heat exchanger air outlet fluidly communicating with the heat exchanger air inlet and with the engine air inlet, the second heat exchanger forming part of the top portion of the tunnel, the second heat exchanger being operable to dissipate heat toward the space from air passing through the second heat exchanger. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the first heat exchanger contacts snow projected by the drive track while the snowmobile is being propelled along snow covered ground. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the second heat exchanger is disposed in a forward portion of the space. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the rear suspension assembly comprises at least one drive sprocket mounted to a drive axle, the second heat exchanger being disposed above the drive axle and being longitudinally aligned with the at least one drive sprocket. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, further comprising an air intake system for supplying air from the atmosphere to the engine air inlet, the air intake system comprising: an air compressor fluidly connected to the second heat exchanger for feeding compressed air thereto. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The snowmobile of claim 5, wherein the air intake system further comprises: a throttle body fluidly connected to the second heat exchanger such that cooled air from the second heat exchanger flows to the throttle body, the throttle body having a throttle valve for regulating the amount of air flowing through the throttle body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The snowmobile of claim 6, wherein the air intake system further comprises: an airbox fluidly connected between the throttle body and the engine. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the second heat exchanger comprises: a top part; and a bottom part joined to the top part to form the second heat exchanger, an air passage being formed between the top and bottom parts for permitting flow of air therein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the first heat exchanger comprises: a top part; and a bottom part joined to the top part to form the first heat exchanger, a passage being formed between the top and bottom parts for permitting flow of liquid therein. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein: a first portion of the first heat exchanger extends forward of and below the second heat exchanger; and a second portion of the first heat exchanger extends rearward of the second heat exchanger. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The snowmobile of claim 10, wherein: the rear suspension assembly comprises at least one drive sprocket mounted to a drive axle, the first portion being disposed forward of the drive axle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The snowmobile of claim 10, wherein a third portion of the first heat exchanger extends longitudinally along a left side of the second heat exchanger. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The snowmobile of claim 12, wherein a fourth portion of the first heat exchanger extends longitudinally along a right side of the second heat exchanger, the third and fourth portions being interconnected by the second portion that extends laterally therebetween. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the first and second heat exchangers contact snow projected by the drive track while the snowmobile is being propelled along snow covered ground. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the first heat exchanger is disposed in a gap defined in the top portion of the tunnel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the second heat exchanger is disposed in a gap defined in the top portion of the tunnel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein: the tunnel further comprises a front portion extending downwardly and forwardly from the top portion; and the second heat exchanger is affixed to the front portion of the tunnel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The snowmobile of claim 17, wherein the front portion of the tunnel curves downwardly and forwardly from the top portion.